Matilda and the succession crisis
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the nature of Matilda's claim to the English throne.
Key learning points
- Henry I had a male heir, William Adelin.
- William Adelin died on the White Ship in 1120.
- The death of William Adelin prompted a succession crisis in England.
- The English barons swore to recognise Matilda as the heir.
- Stephen of Blois took the crown following Henry I's death.
Keywords
Legitimate - legitimate means to be born of parents legally married to each other
Heir - an heir is a person legally entitled to the property or rank of another person upon that person’s death
Baron - a baron is a great lord or landholder in a kingdom
Succession crisis - a succession crisis is a situation in which there is no clear heir to a position
Common misconception
Women were forbidden from ruling in their own right in England during the medieval period.
The first time the concept of a woman ruling in her own right in England occurred it took everyone by surprise. No one had considered that a woman might rule alone, so there was no law preventing it from happening.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to make links between different examples in the final factors question. Ask them to consider whether two examples considered together would be a more significant reason for Stephen's success in claiming the throne than a single example.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Matilda was the daughter of...
Q2.At the age of __________ , Matilda was betrothed to the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry V.
Q3.The people of __________ referred to Matilda as 'the good Matilda'.
Q4.When some of Henry V's subjects rebelled, Matilda stayed in __________ to manage his land there.
Q5.When Matilda returned to her father in England she her lands in the Holy Roman Empire.
Q6.Why did Henry I want Matilda to succeed him as the next monarch of England?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why had William Adelin travelled to Normandy in 1120?
Q2.The ship which sank, killing William Adelin and many others, was called the Ship.
Q3.Who did Henry I choose as his heir after William Adelin's death?
Q4.Henry's choice of heir was controversial because Matilda's husband was a...
Q5.Why did Matilda and her husband join a rebellion against Henry I?
Q6.When Henry I died, of Blois had himself crowned king of England and Normandy.
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Matilda and the succession crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: Matilda and the succession crisis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Medieval women: what can we learn from Matilda about women in medieval England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.